The Venice Film Festival, is one of the most highly anticipated film festivals of the year. Giving us notable moments with Harry Styles when he was seen "spitting" on Chris Pines at the Don't Worry Darling premiere, to the more glamorous ones with Zendaya, in a memorable all wet-look by Balmain for the Dune premiere.
Celebrating its 81st year, the Italian cinema spectacle will be running from the 28th of August to the 7th of September. Where we can expect films from Venice Film veterans such as Challengers Director Luca Guadagnino debuting his film Queer, where Loewe Creative Director Johnathan Anderson will be joining Guadagnino again as Costume Designer. To first time attendees like Talk to Me actress Sophie Wilde who will be making her debut at the film festival for her movie BabyGirl.
Below, we've selected eight movies making their debut at the 2024 Venice Film Festival that you'll want to keep an eye on.
Queer
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, Queer is an adaption of William S. Burroughs’ 1985 semi-autobiographical novel. Starring Outerbanks star Drew Starkey and former James Bond Daniel Craig. The movie is set in 1940's Mexico City, that follows Craigs character, Lee, who lives among American college students and bar owners and GI Bill benefits following World War II. The book’s themes touch on sex and drug abuse, with the protagonist becoming infatuated with a younger, discharged American Navy serviceman named Allerton (Starkey). Allerton is a drug user, who, though indifferent to Lee’s advances, eventually relents. As per above, Johnathan Anderon will be returning as Costume Designer and Justin Kuritzkes, who wrote Challengers script, adapted this novel into a screen play. Where Musician Omar Apollo will be making his first acting appearance in this film as well.
BabyGirl
When it's produced by A24, you know it's going to be a good film. This one evolves around a high-ranking CEO, played by Nicole Kidman who ignites a forbidden romance with her intern, Harris Dickinson, who is significantly younger. Marked as an erotic thriller, written and directed by Bodies Bodies Bodies filmmaker Halina Reijn. Joining the leads, is Sophie Wilde as Kidmans assistant who notices the love affair, where Antonio Banderas and Esther McGregor are too in this film.
Joker: Folie À Deux
The 2nd film to Joker Directed by Todd Phillips has Lady Gaga joining Joaquin Phoenix as the Harley Quinn to his Joker. Set to hit cinemas on October 4th this year, the first Joker won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival in 2019. This film follows the two, as they embark on sinister adventures. The film will be taking place mostly in Arkham Asylum, upon the Jokers release, and has been told it will dabble in the musical genre.
The Order
Directed by Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel, this film follows a series of bank robberies and car heists in the Pacific Northwest. A lone FBI agent, played by Jude Law, believes that the crimes were not the work of financially motivated criminals, but rather a group of dangerous domestic terrorists. Joining Law, is Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Odessa Young and Alison Oliver.
The Brutalist
The Brutalist is Director Brady Corbet's first film since 2018, where this one will screen for 215 minutes long and filmed on 70mm. Led by Adrien Brody László Tóth, a Hungarian Jew who survived Auschwitz before emigrating to America. On U.S. soil after years of poverty, he’s entrusted by a patron, Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce) with a gigantic architectural project, where suddenly their lives are changed forever by him. The family is based off Ayn Rand’s controversial 1943 novel The Fountainhead. Felicity Jones will star alongside Brody as his wife, with Joe Alwyn and Stacy Martin.
The Room Next Door
Directed by Pedro Almodovar, The Room Next Door follows the story of Martha (played by Tilda Swinton) , a flawed mother working as a war reporter and her spiteful daughter, separated by a serious misunderstanding. Where Ingrid (played by Julianne Moore) is Martha's friend, is the keeper of their pin and bitterness.
Maria
Following the life story of Maria Callas in the 1970's, once the world's greatest opera singer, lives in a secluded area of Paris with her staff and two dogs. As her health deteriorates, she receives a request to go on tour again. Angelina Jolie takes on the role of Maria, directed by Pablo Larrain.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Tim Burton is returning to reprise his directorial role for the 2nd Beetlejuice film. Thirty-six years after the events of the first film, the Deetz family returns home to Winter River following Charles Deetz unexpected death. Lydia's (played by Winona Ryder) life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega) discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the afterlife is accidentally opened, releasing Betelgeuse.
